THE CANONIZATION OF SAINT RAFQA:
"MODEL FOR MIDEAST"

By Guita G. Hourani
Editor In Chief, Journal of Maronite Studies.

Icon of St Rafqa suspended from the Portico of St. Peter's Church
Photo by MARI, June 10, 2001

2. On Sunday, June 10, the feast of the Holy Trinity, His Holiness Pope John Paul II would preside over four beatifications and one canonization. The four beatified or "Blessed" would be Luigi Scrosoppi (1804-1884), priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri and founder of the Congregation of Sisters of Providence of St. Cajetan of Thiene; Agostino Roscelli (1818-1902), founder of the Congregation of Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Bernardo Da Corleone (1605-1667), a Sicilian criminal who became a Capuchin friar; and Theresa Eustochio Verzeri (1801-1852), founder of the Institute of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Rafqa Butrusia (Rebecca Pietra) Choboq Ar-Rayès of Lebanon (1832-1914), an exemplary Maronite nun, would be canonized a saint.

3. Late on Saturday afternoon before the evening Liturgy, the Lebanese attending and their friends from the Middle East, North and South America, Australia, Africa and Europe congregated at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to begin a three-day celebration of Saint Rafqa's canonization. The basilica was built on the site where the Blessed Mother appeared amidst fallen snow in the middle of summer. The Syro-Maronite chanting filled the basilica before and throughout the Liturgy. More than 150 priests entered the church led by the presiding celebrant, Abbot Athanasius Jalekh, Superior General of the Lebanese Maronite Order. In the past one hundred years, this Order has given the Maronite and the Universal Churches Saint Sharbel in 1977, Saint Rafqa in 2001, and Blessed Hardini in 1998.

4. Following the Mass, Patriarch Sfeir entered the Basilica carrying the relic of Saint Rafqa in a golden reliquary shaped like a cedar. He and a large group of bishops and monsignors advanced to the altar in solemn procession. There was chanting, applause, the waving of the Lebanese flag amid shouts of praise for the patriarch. He was always humble at those displays of affection.

5. While he was still in Lebanon, Patriarch Sfeir called Rafqa a "unique source of inspiration for Christians in the beleaguered country of Lebanon." He said that Rafqa's life reflected that of her Maronite community; that she is the saint of suffering and pain. He expressed the hope that Saint Rafqa's countrymen would endure the same sufferings of war, exile and displacement, which she had once endured. Hers and their Calvary are the same. She should be their inspiration!

6. On Sunday, June 10, the feast of the Holy Trinity, His Holiness Pope John Paul II presided over four beatifications and one canonization. The icons of the five being venerated were hanging above the portico of Saint Peter's Basilica -- Luigi Scrosoppi (1804-1884), priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri and founder of the Congregation of Sisters of Providence of St.Cajetan of Thiene; Agostino Roscelli (1818-1902), founder of the Congregation of Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Bernardo Da Corleone (1605-1667), a Sicilian criminal who became a Capuchin friar; and Theresa Eustochio Verzeri (1801-1852), founder of the Institute of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; and Rafqa Butrusia (Rebecca Pietra) Choboq Ar-Rayès of Lebanon, an examplary person in loving Christ.

7. Pilgrims and visitors from the four corners of the world had flocked to the Piazza and sat as they waited the ceremony to begin. Saint Rafqa's icon, an oil painting on canvas showing her serene face, depicts her heroic life and great faith. The Maronites, accompanied by their spiritual leader Patriarch Sfeir and the representatives of civil, public and non-profit organizations in Lebanon and abroad, were the most visible at this holy event. The well-organized event lasted more than two hours. The Holy Father's kindness and spirituality impressed everyone.

8. In his homily, the Holy Father effectively focused on Saint Rafqa as a model for Lebanese Christians in their tormented region. "In canonizing Blessed Rafqa Choboq Ar-Rayes, the Church elucidates in a very particular manner the mystery of love given and received for the glory of God and the salvation of the world. Suffering always tormented her during the last twenty-nine years of her life. By it, Saint Rafqa always manifested a generous and passionate love for the redemption of her brothers, counting on her union with the crucified Christ for the strength to voluntarily accept and love the suffering as an authentic path to sainthood. Saint Rafqa has watched over those who knew suffering, particularly the people of the Middle East who are confronting the destructive and desolate spiral of violence! By her intercession, we ask the Lord to open our hearts to search patiently for new ways for peace, accelerating the days of reconciliation and concord." The Pontiff concluded saying " May the sick, the afflicted, the war refugees and all victims of hatred, yesterday and today, find in Saint Rafqa a companion on the road so that, through her intercession, they will continue to search in the night for reasons to hope again and to build peace."

9. There were many remarkable moments during the canonization ceremony. The declaration of Rafqa as a Saint for the Universal Church; the chanting of the Holy Scriptures in Arabic according to the Maronite tradition, a grand gesture to the Arabic speaking Christians in general and the Lebanese in particular; and the site of the Piazza being transformed into a sea of waving Lebanese flags everytime the name of Rafqa or Lebanon was mentioned.

10. The media reported that the Lebanese were the most numerous and animated group during the celebration. And they were! Over ten thousand Lebanese and those of Lebanese descent -- old and young, men and women, the healthy and the impaired or ill -- came from around the world. It was impressive to see the many aged people who had traveled to Rome for this holy event. It was heart warming to watch the young whisper softly to the old people to describe the events and translate what was being said. One old man was heard to say, "Now I can die happy!" Many people were ovelwhelmed by tears of joy and of hope. Faith had been strengthened, suffering had been alleviated and doubts were removed.

11. At a concert in Pope Paul VI hall, the choir of the Holy Spirit University performed hymns composed by Father Youhanna Khawand, resident hermit of Our Lady of Tamich, Father Youhanna Geha, Assad Gwan and Rawad Tarabay. Father Louis Hage, Choir Director, used Syro-Maronite melodies and Lebanese traditional rhythms for the hymns. An impressive and most enjoyable performance which moved the audience many times to their feet and prompted them to interrupt the songs with warm applause and standing ovations time and again.

12. Afterwards, the Holy Father held an audience in the Vatican's auditorium where the Lebanese were the largest single group. They cried out: "John Paul two we love you!" The Lebanese and the Holy Father have for years had a special relationship built on mutual love.

13. Monday, June 11, was a day of thanksgiving and farewell. Patriarch Sfeir celebrated the Liturgy at the altar in Saint Peter's Basilica. The congregation applauded enthusiastically when Cardinal Moussa Dawood, Chairman of the Eastern Churches Assembly at the Vatican, said that Rafqa is a saint for all the Christians of the world and for the Middle East as well as a saint for the Lebanese Maronite Order, the Maronites, and Lebanon.

14. No matter how well prepared emotionally and mentally one may be, everything appears otherworldly upon leaving the Vatican after these sacred rituals. Man, misguided by his unworthiness, convinced himself that Sainthood is attainable by chosen people, was reminded today that saints were human who loved God above all else.

15. 

Prayer:

Oh, Jesus Christ, our God and Lord,
You imprinted Your image of salvation upon the life of Saint Rafqa and
made her a beloved one and a loyal worker because
she prayed and shared with You in the Mystery of Redemption.
We humble ourselves before You, with her prayers and a plea, so that You may
bless the children, enlighten the youth,
make the weariness of people an occasion of grace and goodness,
give the sick and those who are suffering the grace of healing, joy and happiness, and grant what they request to whoever prays to You in churches and monasteries.
And as You have honored Rafqa by letting her see Your Heavenly Light, allow
us throughout our life to live like her in faith, hope and love, to glorify and thank You
with her, with the Blessed Mother and with all the Saints to the end of time,
Amen.